Abstract. This paper is devoted to an intercomparison of ozone vertical profiles
retrieved from the measurements of scattered solar radiation performed by the
SCIAMACHY instrument in the limb viewing geometry. Three different inversion
algorithms including the prototype of the operational Level 1 to 2 processor
to be operated by the European Space Agency are considered. Unlike usual
validation studies, this comparison removes the uncertainties
arising when comparing measurements made by different instruments
probing slightly different air masses and focuses on the uncertainties
specific to the modeling-retrieval problem only. The intercomparison was
performed for 5 selected orbits of SCIAMACHY showing a
good overall agreement of the results in the middle stratosphere, whereas
considerable discrepancies were identified in the lower stratosphere and
upper troposphere altitude region. Additionally, comparisons with
ground-based lidar measurements are shown for selected profiles demonstrating
an overall correctness of the retrievals.